light touring?

[p90ade]

hi, im going to be doing jogle later in the year, i have just brought a trek 1.2 of ebay and i also have a boardman hybrid. i would like to do it on the trek and after reading a few post of them being good for light touring,

what would everyone class as "light"?
the bikes got eyelets and braze-ons for a rack so im assuming it should be ok.
the other thing is i aint the lightest either, lol.

 

[P.H]

I'd class light touring as non camping, no winter clothing, probably 2 sets of bike clothes and something light for off the bike. I can get everything I need for light touring in a Carradice saddlebag and bar bag.
The Trek will easily be capable of that, though it'd be worth having the wheels checked over before you go, as it would with any bike you weren't sure of the history of.
Enjoy the trip.

 

[p90ade]

but i think i will be camping. although not taking lots, just tent and sleeping bag im not going to be carrying stove and food etc. list will be about...
tent, sleeping bag, couple of change of clothes (summer) and then just spares and tools that id normaly take.its not going to be heavy but more than would fit in a saddle bag.

 

[P.H]

I think it'll be a case of try it and see. The bike will be capable of carrying it, as long as the wheels are, the question is how it'll affect handling. I wouldn't want to ride ride 1,000 miles fighting the bike.

 

[willem]

Why the f*** do people think that these bikes are good for light touring? They have narrow tyres, not very strong frames, a racy geometry, and gearing for top class athletes rather than real people. For me light touring is either hotels or ultralight camping with something like 10 kilo of luggage, in a bar bag and a Carradice Camper. This bike will probably survive it, but an audax bike or a second hand Galaxy would be so much more enjoyable.
So the question is how you make do with this bike:
1 fit the widest possible tyres. With luck that will mean something like 28 mm Panaracer Pasela's (or else 25 mm). Forget ordinary mudguards, and use SKS raceblades.
1 raise your handle bar.
2 get the wheels looked at - spokes tightened
3 get lower gears (largest cassette your RD will take)
4 think about a more comfortable saddle such as a Brooks.
5 really put your luggage on a very strict diet.!!!!!!!!! Get a PHD sleeping bag, a TN Laser tent etc.

And enjoy it............
Willem

 

[andym]

p90ade. When people talk about 'light touring' I think they generally mean without a tent, sleeping bag and cooking equipment.

I don't think the bike will break, and the handling will be OK - providing you don't take too much stuff.

As willem says, fit wider tyres and higher gears if you can. You won't die without mudguards if there isn't enough clearance to fit them.

Take it out on a short tour before committing to a long tour with it.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Light touring = Bianchi + credit card

Touring = Galaxy four panniers bar bag and all the kit

 

[willem]

I am not so sure. I think in between these extremes is indeed where it gets interesting.
Willem

 

[RedBike]

Light touring will obviously mean different things to different people. To me it means carrying as little as you can reasonably get away with in order to keep the bike light.

For some this will be just a change of clothing+ a credit card.
For others this will also include a tent, sleeping bag and breakfast.

 

[andrew_s]

I'd call light touring a bar bag and either a saddlebag or a pair of front panniers.

The lightest I've seen claimed was someone who did a 2 week tour on a small seat pack and what he could stuff in his jersey pockets.

 

[p90ade]

I'd call light touring a bar bag and either a saddlebag or a pair of front panniers.

The lightest I've seen claimed was someone who did a 2 week tour on a small seat pack and what he could stuff in his jersey pockets.

why do you say front panniers andrew? are they better than using rear ones for weight distribution?

 

[hubbike]

I took one pannier which I filled with a sleeping bag, a spare fleece, a spare pair of cycling shorts, a puncture repair kit, cycle tool, inner tube, small bottle of lubricant, gloves and fleece hat. That left me enough room at the top to fill with snacks. I bungeed on my tent. It took 9 days in March using a clapped out mtb.

I would recommend that you should use whichever bike you like. If you do it in july you will only need a thin sleeping bag a thin fleece.

Don´t bother with a stove as if its raining you'll probably eat in pubs anyway. plus whats wrong with eating lots of sandwiches?

In hindsight a fun way to do this tour would be to book all the hostals. That way you have a definate aim each day. Take some lights. And like the Big guy said, just take a credit card.

 

[willem]

Front panniers at the rear is what I think Andrew meant. They are about 25 litres for two, i.e. just as large/small as a large saddle bag such as the Carradice Camper. Total weight would be about 10 kilo, I guess, taking you into pretty light backpacking territory. I like to cook my own meals, if only to save money.
Willem

 

[Brains]

Touring with a tent is not light touring

Light touring is a credit card and one change of clothes

Touring is a tent (and sleeping bag, extra clothes, carry mat, a torch, a towell, a pillow or stuff sack, a washing line, a pannier to fit it all in)

Heavy touring is stove, food and kitchen sink.

 

[Arch]

I rode my Giant FCR for the East Yorks camping weekend, see it loaded in this post:

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=821020&postcount=105

That is tent, sleeping bag, bedroll, cycling kit (tools etc) and some clothes, just a weekend's worth. No cooking gear, but I could probably have trimmed the 'etc' a bit. I probably wouldn't take more clothes even for a longer trip, just wash them as necessary.

The wheels are handbuilt (the front one by me!) and tyres are 25mm. The rack and mudguards were mackled on the best I could, years ago. It handled fine, and I managed a couple of 50 mile days comfortably.

That said, I'd class 'light touring' as not camping, but just to show it can be done on a bike thats not a full blown tourer.